The fidget spinner is nothing but a fad

You have probably seen many variants of these online or in your friend’s hands. Meet the fidget spinner, the Internet’s latest viral sensation.

Although the spinner was introduced almost three decades ago, the device received a sudden surge in popularity over the past few months. And even though the spinner was initially marketed for children, teenagers and working adults are now playing with these devices.

The spinner craze took off when Forbes wrote an article about how it was the “must-have” toy for the office in 2017, as it was seen as a replacement for stress balls and desk toys. Shortly after, the spinner started to appear on social websites such as Reddit.

After seeing it appear everywhere online, I was curious and I had to try it.

The result?

I got bored very quickly. After an hour of spinning and even attempting several tricks that I’ve found online, the novelty soon wore off and it sat on my desk for the rest of the day. Anyone that walked past my desk picked it up, fiddled with it, and placed it back after a few minutes; they probably got bored with it as well.

Perhaps I didn’t fit into the category of people that the spinner was marketed for. It was initially touted as a good toy for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as it can help them by reducing their stress and enhancing their focus in class.

Many users nowadays though, do not have ADHD. And for such people, the spinner has become such a distraction that some schools here and abroad have started to ban the toy.

Since its popularity surged, prices have increased exponentially as well. A basic fidget spinner usually costs about $3 to $10. However, online marketplaces such as Carousell feature “premium” ones at a whopping $300. They are shinier and fancier, but they are still just spinners.

I think the fidget spinner is nothing more than a fad, accompanied by short-term enthusiasm that will die off in the months to come, just like how the Rubik’s Cube and hula hoop were popular back in the day.

But there are differences. The Rubik’s Cube is a puzzle that exercises the mind, while the hula hoop can be used for exercise and gymnastics.

The spinner?

Well, it’s anybody’s guess.